Railway-bridge indicator



(No Model.)

B. A. GROSS.

RAILWAY BRIDGE INDICATOR.

N0.'289,770. Patented Dec. 4, 1-883.

WITNESES: I INQEMOR' 4 wmgi Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICEo ELAM A. GROSS,OF CAMDEN, NEWV JERSEY.

RAILWAY-BRIDGE INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 289,770, datcd December4, 1883.

Application filed July 6, 1883.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELAM A. Gnoss, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Camden, in the county of Camdenand State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Railway-Bridge Indicators; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the apparatus in its operative position, and Fig. 2 is anend View of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both thefigures.

The object of my invention is to prevent injury to train-men when ridingon the top of box-cars in passing under bridges.

As is well known, it rarely happens that a railway-bridge is at asufficient elevation above the roof of cars to permit a person standingon the car to pass under. the bridge, and on dark nights, when thebridge cannot readily be distinguished, serious injuries, and even lossof life, are often caused by the train-men being knocked off of the carsas the train passes under a bridge or enters a tunnel.

My invention consists in an inexpensive but effective indicator, wherebythe approach to a bridge or tunnel is indicated some distance ahead, sothat the trainmen may have an opportunity of either leaving the roof ofthe cars, or, by placing themselves in a recumbent position, enablingthem to pass under the bridge without injury.

The nature of my invention will be readily understood by reference tothe accompanying drawings, on which A represents a post or upright ofsuitable height-say about twentyone feetwhich is firmly planted in theground on one side of the bridge or tunnel and at a suitable distanceahead of the same. At the upper end of the post A, and suitably bracedthereto, is an arm, B,'which extends across the track at right.anglessay about eight feet in length, more or less. This arm is providedon its under side with a series of staples or eye-screws, G, placed at adistance apart of about a foot, more or less. Fastened into (No model.)

these staples are sections of thick wire D, about two feet in lengtheach, to the lower ends of which are aflixed bells E, which may be ofany approved construction. To the bells again are attached other wires,F, about three feet in length, movably suspended from or hinged to thesame in any suitable manner.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,the operation of this device or apparatus will readily be understoodwithout requiring extended explana tion. As a train approaches a bridgeor the entrance of a tunnel, persons standing on top of the freight-carsor box-cars will come in contact with the lower wires, F, which willring the bells, and thereby give warning that a bridge or tunnel isbeing approached, which warning is given a sufficient time ahead toenable the men to descend from the cars or to lie down fiat. The wiresbeing loosely suspended from the bells, and these again being looselysuspended from arm 13, a person will suffer no injury whatever bycontact against the loose wires.

Having thus described my invention, I desire it to be understood that Ido not limit myself to any particular means for suspending the wires andbells, as other methods may be employed which will answer the samepurpose.- For example, a rope or wire may be strung across the trackbetween trees orposts on opposite sides, and the wires D may be fastenedto this instead of to the arm B, extending laterally from the post, asin the drawings.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is a -1. A device for indicating the approach to bridges ortunnels on railway-tracks, consisting of a series of wires suspendedtransversely across and above the track and suitably fastened ahead of.the bridge or tunnel, provided with bells or other suitable sonorousalarms at their lower ends, and with depending wires adapted to operatesaid bells or alarms when struck by a person or persons standing on theroof of the cars, substantially as and for the purpose shown and setforth; I

2. The herein-described safety device for indicating the approach tobridges or tunnels on railway-tracks, which consists in the post orupright A, having arm B, extending transversely across and at a suitabledistance above In testimony that I claim the foregoing as the track, andprovided with staples or sirnimy own I have hereunto affiXed mysignature IO lar fastenings, 0, wires D, bells E, and wires in presenceof two witnesses.

F, extendin downwardly from the bells and 1 adapted to ring the samewhen brought in con- ELAM GROSS tact with a person or persons standingon the WVitnesses: roof of a train of passing oars, substantially as T.F. BOARDMAN, and for the purpose shown and set forth. J AMES M. CASSADY.

